#pls aka give akane a happy ending plsplspls

[cheswirls]

"if i were aqua, i would also choose you."

"why?"

"because . . . you're pretty. if i were a man, i'd definitely choose you."

akane blushes. she can't help it. it's dark, but the moon it out, so she knows it's a visible reaction. her lips tremble. she tries to press them together, to not show kana the result her words are having, but then decides against it. she speaks instead.

"that's not fair."

kana looks up with a face that says she's ready to argue. her cheeks are red, too, but it's more because she's flustered.

"how can i not be flattered by that?" akane says before kana can ruin it.

that shuts her up real quick. akane continues.

"do you even realize what that means to me? me, who . . has admired your dedication and your talents for so long. when you say the only thing keeping you from reciprocating is that you were born the wrong gender, how am i not supposed to take that the wrong way? my–"

she cuts off, hand to her lips. stops to breathe with her eyes on the sand at their feet. "my love doesn't discriminate," she ends up murmuring, muffled behind her cupped hand.

a response doesn't come, and she doesn't expect one to. arima kana is in love with hoshino aqua. they've firmly established this. she's playing a losing game.

kana takes her hand away from her face and clasps it firmly. it draws akane's eyes to her immediately, and the sudden lack of distance frightens her.

"you should have said something."

kana's face is even redder. it's not a good look, when it blends into her hair like this. akane carefully keeps the thought to herself.

"i didn't know how to put it into words."

kana frowns at this. "you always have the perfect line for everything, so how do you expect me to believe that? you walk around with conversation options in your back pocket like you're the lead in an otome game."

"again with the flattering," she mutters, but it falls on deaf ears. "i don't think i realized how i really felt until you forced my hand. it just came out. not like it matters. sorry."

"my professed girl-of-my-dreams is apologizing for halfway confessing to me," kana drones. "what an eventful evening."

"you don't have a girl of . . ." akane trails off. "i'm still pushing you to get with aqua, you know."

"we're not talking about aqua right now." kana waves her off, dropping the hold on her hand to do so. "and anyway, it's not the right time."

"then–" akane stops, bites on her lip. it doesn't prevent her from finishing, even if doing so shoves her heart forcefully back down her throat. "is it the right time for me?"

"ugh, don't make me be mean." kana's arms cross over her chest when akane only pouts, cheeks puffing and everything. "if taken out of context, that line could be referring back to you and aqua, y'know."

"we weren't talking about him," she mutters back.

"you're putting a lot on me." kana starts scrubbing at her scalp. "then how about this?"

akane looks up, hopeful.

"if me and aqua don't work out, for whatever reason, then you're my second choice. that sound good?"

this time, when kana smiles, it's completely genuine. unlike all their sharp, fake grins exchanged back and forth over the course of the past few months of filming. of pretending to get along while being pathetically catty to each other. the whites of her teeth shine brilliantly in the moonlight. it makes akane's knees go weak.

really, she had no idea of these feelings of hers. what an unfortunate time to realize. what a splendid time to air them out and get them out of the way.

akane hopes the two of them never, ever break up. with all of her heart.

outwardly, she answers, "i want to help you get together with aqua."